Pneumatic adjusting mechanism for musical instruments.



V: L. JONES.

PNEUMATIC/ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL WSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, Hi3.

1,190,767. Patented July 11, 1916.

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PNEUMATIC ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR, I0. I913.

1 1 90,767. Patented July 11, 1916.

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STATES PATENT VERN L. JONES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THEFARRAND COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PNEUMATIC ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed April 10, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERN L. Jones, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State ofMichigan, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements inPneumatic Adjusting Mechanism for Mus 1cal Instruments, of which thefollowing 1s a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

The invention relates to pneumatic adjusting mechanism, and moreparticularly to such a mechanism adapted for ad usting the hammer restrail.

The invention has among the ob ects thereof to provide a pneumaticmechanism which will effect a differential adjustment; to permit theadjustments to be readily controlled; to provide means whereby eachadjustment may be easily and accurately effected; and to produce astructure which will differentially adjust the hammer rest rail.

Other objects of the invention will more fully hereinafter appear.

The invention resides in the peculiar con struction, arrangement andcombination of parts as will be herein described and claimed.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is fragmentary side elevation of the deviceembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a section through the pneumatic andthe valve chamber therefor; Figs. 3 and 4. are sections at right anglesto each other through the control member and the valve block; Fig. 5 isa top plan view of the structure shown in Figs.

1 and 2, with certain parts removed; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of thecontrol member and valve block, and Fig. 7 is an end view of thestructure shown in Fig. 1 combined with the control member therefor, thelatter being in section.

A designates the hammer rest rail, mounted in any suitable manner formovement toward and from the hammers.

C is a rod connected at its upper end to rod A upon which the rail A ispivotally mounted, rod C furtherhaving its lower end operativelyattached to a pneumatic D. This pneumatic is constructed todifferentially adjust the rod C and to this end is provided with threecollapsible sections E E E connected by independent conduits F F Frespectively to valve chambers G Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented July it, 1916.

Serial No. 760,254.

G G The valve chambers are each adapted to communicate by means of aport H with a vacuum chamber I operatively connected to the exhaustmechanism. Normally, communication between the vacuum and the valvechambers however, is closed by a valve J attached to a diaphragmpneumatic K and the chambers Z of these diaphragm pneumatics areconnected respectively by independent conduits or tubes L L L with portsM M M preferably formed in a valve block N and controlled by independentvalves. These valves are herein illustrated as comprising flat springs PP P each fixedly secured at one end as by screws Q and having theopposite end positioned in the path of an operating member B. Each ofthe ports M M M is provided with a seat formed by a disk S of suitablematerial, upon which the springs seat.

As shown in Fig. 3, the operating member R is in the form of a plugarranged for reciprocation in a guide bore 1, and the ends of thesprings are arranged to be successively engaged and released upon travelof the plug. Thus, the spring P has an upstanding lug U, the member P alug U which is shorter than the lug U, while the end of the spring Pwhich is in the path of the plu R is flat and arranged below the planeof the upper edge of the lug U. Therefore, upon depression of the memberR the lug U will first be engaged and the port M opened. Furtherdepression will cause the plug to contact with the lug U, opening theport-M, and the complete depression of the member R will open the port MIt is to be noted that when the port M is opened the port M is alsouncovcred, and similarly the ports M" and M are both opened when theactuating member is in position to engage the spring P Upon the raisingor outward movement of the plug the ports M M M are successively closed.

In order to insure the actuating member being moved to properly open theports in the valve block N, a spring V is provided which has aprojection W thereon adapted to engage with notches Y Y in the side ofthe plug R.

The valve chambers are each adapted to communicate with the atmosphereby means of an aperture Z but this aperture is normally closed by avalve X connected to be actuated by the diaphragm pneumatic K andarranged to close the aperture Z upon the opening of the port H and toopen the aperture upon the closing of the port.

Normally the pneumatic is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and plug R inthe raised position shown in Fig. 8 so that the ports M M M are closed.The rest rail A is then away from the hammers. If it is desired toadjust the rest rail so as to slightly limit the stroke of the hammers,the operator depresses the plug R until the projection \V engages therecess Y. This moves the spring P to open the port M, establishingatmospheric pressure in the chamber of the diaphragm pneumatic K, whichwill cause the motor to raise the valve J from its seat, opening theport H and closing the aperture Z. This will establish communicationbetween the vacuum chamber I and the interior of the section E throughthe port F, causing the section E to collapse. The collapsing of thesection raises the rod C and thereby effects an adjustment of the hammerrest rail.

As the connections between the several ports M M and the sections E Eoperate in the same manner as described in connection with the port Mand section E, it will be readily understood that upon a furtherdepression of the plug'so that the projection W engages the recess Y theport M will be closed, collapsing the section E, but as before stated,since the port M remains open when the port M is uncovered, both thesections E and E will be collapsed. Thiswill e'liect a furtheradjustment of the hammer rest rail. Likewise upon the completedepression of the plug all three sections E, E E will be collapsed,effecting the maximum adjustment of the rail A. Vhen the plug is raisedthe port M will first be closed, which will cause the closing of theport H in the valve chamber G and the opening of the port Z thenestablishes communication between this latter chamber and theatmosphere. This will place the interior of the section E incommunication with the atmosphere and cause the expanding of the latter.Therefore, as the plug R is raised there will be a successive expansionof the chambers E E E and E, which will restore the hammer rest rail toits normal position. It will be noted, however, that if the plug isdepressed so as to adjust the rail to an intermediate position, the plugmay be further actuated without returning the same to its normalposition to cause a difien ent adjustment of the rail. Similarly whenthe rail has been moved to its maximum position of adjustment, it may beplaced in an intermediate position of adjustment without first returningthe member R to its initial station.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a pneumatically-operated musical instrument, the combination withthe hammer rest rail, of pneumatic means for differentially adjustingsaid rail. including a plurality of independently collapsible sections,valves controlling the collapsing of said sections, independent ductsleading to said valves, and manually operable means for controlling saidducts comprising a valve block, provided with ports, valves controllingsaid ports, and a reciprocal plug moving in said block and directlycontacting with and controlling said valves.

2. In a pneumatically-operated musical instrument, the combination withthe hammer rest rail, of pneumatic means for ad justing said railincluding a plurality of independently collapsible sections, valvescontrolling the collapsing of said sections, independent ducts leadingto said valves, valves for controlling said ducts, said valves beingprovided with up-standing lugs in substantial alinement with each other,and means for progressively engaging said lugs.

3. In a pneumatically-operated musical instrument, the combination withthe hammer rest rail, of pneumatic means for adjusting said railincluding a plurality of independently collapsible sections, valvescontrolling the collapsing of said sections, independent ducts leadingto said valves, means for controlling said ducts, and means for slightlyholding each adj ustmcnt of con trol.

4;. In a pneumatically-operated musical instrument, the combination withthe hammer rest rail, of pneumatic means for differentially adjustingsaid rail including a plurality of independently collapsible sections,valves controlling the collapsing of said sections, independent ductsleading tosaid valves and manually operable means for controlling saidducts comprising a valve block, ports in said block, valves controllingsaid ports, a reciprocal plug moving in said block and controlling saidvalves, said plug having spaced notches, and means for progressivelyengaging said notches.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' VERN L. JONES. lVitnesses:

WM. J. BELKNAP, JAMns I. BARRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

